Revamp / update of mastihari.com - canvassing your views

[madhatter]

The version of the web site associated with this forum has been up for several years. It's looking its age. A revamp/update is, I think, called for.

I've put a proposed new version at http://www.mastihari.com/home. Not everything is working smoothly yet.

This is your opportunity to say what features you want to retain, value or would like to see dropped. All input welcome.

Changes I'm thinking of making include:-

(i) dropping the "Shetch Map". Before it Mastihari was uncharted. Google et al had yet to launch their map applications;

(ii) dropping the "Friends" section;

(iii) carrying some "adverts" in the side columns and, perhaps, having one in the main heading.

(iv) adding links to social networking sites eg. Facebook pages and, perhaps blogs.

I'd welcome your views and opinions.

Chris / MH.

[Chas]

Hi, Chris,

First impressions:

1. Love the wild(?) strawberry but what's it got to do with Mastihari? ..... This may be down to my lack of imagination!

2. Sidebars - dynamic links very pale - not helpful for the sight-impaired.

3. We oldies know all about Bulletin Boards but those who came to the internet in the last ten years or so, understand "Forum" as the place to exchange information and/or opinions.

I'll start playing with the links, later .....

Keep up the sterling work.

[madhatter]

Chas !

Comments much appreciated.

1. Current header images are "out of the box". They will be changed to Mastihari related pictures.

2. I had overlooked the feintness of the fonts. Will update to something more bold - although they're likely to be replaced with pictures for "adverts".

3. The "de riguerness" of Forum is noted and will be adopted.

Yammas.

Chris / MH.

[Vic and Linda]

We saw a "Dog Rose" Linda reliably informs me, which is good of her considering you intend to commit her sketch map to room 101.

Now some sensible questions.

Will the photo gallery be slide show enabled? ( I'm getting good at the jargon)

What sort of advertising are you thinking of?

Will there be a Janet& John procedure for navigating the site? ( Told you I was getting good)

[Macey]

Any help this end Madhatter i will be more than willing mate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chas]

Right! I'm back to stir things, again......

This is a large post - so reply/comment are posted in red font on the original.....
1. Have you change the home-image or has it been cycled automatically? If the latter, that could be really slick.

Yes the header images cycle. A new one opens each time a new page loads. Pics are 1300px x 160px and contributions would be welcome.

2. Like the way the top-bar link to the Forum opens a new window/tab .... pity that doesn't happen for the pictures!


The extant website folder shares the same name. This is a temporary thing as I propose using those pictures in the slideshow (see reposnse to Vic& Linda's post) that will feature on that page.


3. There seems to be a problem with frame sizing - the sidebar text is under the map text ;-(

It's bugging me what's happening here. The maps and text are imported from another site. I shall try doing away with the right sidebar.


4. I hope the "Elleniki" pages are "under separate development" ..... meanwhile, it may be better to lose the tab, temporarily.The pages have been made "private" until I sort out a work around.

Keep the input coming - it's all valuable and appreciated.

Chris.

[madhatter]

We saw a "Dog Rose" Linda reliably informs me, which is good of her considering you intend to commit her sketch map to room 101.

Now some sensible questions.

Will the photo gallery be slide show enabled? ( I'm getting good at the jargon)

What sort of advertising are you thinking of?

Will there be a Janet& John procedure for navigating the site? ( Told you I was getting good)

If there was sufficient interest in the "static map" I would retain. It is with a tinge of regret that I propose letting it go. Perhaps I'll put it on hold for the time being until I've worked out a version that is easier to maintain?

Photogallery is the way I was thinking of appraoching it. Also embedding videos on the same page or another dedicated to videos.

Advertising I propose will be static pictures (cropped logos?) from key sites I've had a hand in eg. Luis, Palatiano, Panorama and Sunny Palm Tours. Perhaps others that I come across and/or meet eg Mastihari Travel (see www.mastiharitravel.gr). They will be limited to the side bars and the footer of pages. I don't propose to have "commercial" ads eg. google ads. or anything flashy or popping-up. These latter irritate the heck out of me and I don't think would be in keeping with the tone of the site.

J&J guide will be added if the navigation is not intuitive. A sitemap is planned.

Chris / MH

[madhatter]

Any help this end Madhatter i will be more than willing mate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Macey !

Appreciate the offer. Will definitely be in touch.

Chris.

[usoli]

Chris, You know me and I have no interest in or know-how about the tecnicalities! You also know that I am resistant to change for changes sake but I can see your point about an up-date and certainly the new idea will give .com a whole new, more interesting (no offence meant!) face.
However, since the subject has been brought up, I personally would really appreciate it if the sketch map could be kept as a lot of my guests do refer to it and often come with printed versions!
If you decide to discard it can I have it?????? Please..........if it is not toooooo hard to do of course!
Thanks,

Daphne/Usoli

[madhatter]

Chris, You know me and I have no interest in or know-how about the tecnicalities! You also know that I am resistant to change for changes sake but I can see your point about an up-date and certainly the new idea will give .com a whole new, more interesting (no offence meant!) face.
However, since the subject has been brought up, I personally would really appreciate it if the sketch map could be kept as a lot of my guests do refer to it and often come with printed versions!
If you decide to discard it can I have it?????? Please..........if it is not toooooo hard to do of course!
Thanks,

Daphne/Usoli

Daphne !

Thank you for your input. I was midnful of the link from your site but wasn't aware of the map's use. Mindful of the hard work that Linda and Vic put in on the original and its use, I shall retain it as a feature of the revamped site.

Chris / MH

[usoli]

Chris, You know me and I have no interest in or know-how about the tecnicalities! You also know that I am resistant to change for changes sake but I can see your point about an up-date and certainly the new idea will give .com a whole new, more interesting (no offence meant!) face.
However, since the subject has been brought up, I personally would really appreciate it if the sketch map could be kept as a lot of my guests do refer to it and often come with printed versions!
If you decide to discard it can I have it?????? Please..........if it is not toooooo hard to do of course!
Thanks,

Daphne/Usoli

Daphne !

Thank you for your input. I was midnful of the link from your site but wasn't aware of the map's use. Mindful of the hard work that Linda and Vic put in on the original and its use, I shall retain it as a feature of the revamped site.

Chris / MH

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I actually find it invaluable for people who have never been to Mastihari so that they can see exactly where their accommodation is in the village. More information means happier guests.


Daphne/Usoli

[Chas]

I suggest a subtle re-branding of the sketch map; have it as a discrete page titled "Printable map".

Alternatively or as well, re-locate it to M-U.

[Vic and Linda]

Chris, You know me and I have no interest in or know-how about the tecnicalities! You also know that I am resistant to change for changes sake but I can see your point about an up-date and certainly the new idea will give .com a whole new, more interesting (no offence meant!) face.
However, since the subject has been brought up, I personally would really appreciate it if the sketch map could be kept as a lot of my guests do refer to it and often come with printed versions!
If you decide to discard it can I have it?????? Please..........if it is not toooooo hard to do of course!
Thanks,

Daphne/Usoli

Daphne !

Thank you for your input. I was midnful of the link from your site but wasn't aware of the map's use. Mindful of the hard work that Linda and Vic put in on the original and its use, I shall retain it as a feature of the revamped site.

Chris / MH

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I actually find it invaluable for people who have never been to Mastihari so that they can see exactly where their accommodation is in the village. More information means happier guests.


Daphne/Usoli

It was all down to Lin that one!! It's no good asking me to remember where anything is, I still get lost even to this day I've lost count of the number of times I've tried buying a paper from the Borsalino, well it would be churlish not to stay for a small Mythos wouldn't it?

[Vic and Linda]

I suggest a subtle re-branding of the sketch map; have it as a discrete page titled "Printable map".

Alternatively or as well, re-locate it to M-U.

No harm in duplicating on MU we didn't think anyone had looked at in years.

[usoli]

I suggest a subtle re-branding of the sketch map; have it as a discrete page titled "Printable map".

Alternatively or as well, re-locate it to M-U.

No harm in duplicating on MU we didn't think anyone had looked at in years.

I would be more than happy.

Daphne?/soli